GERAN transceiver and method for cooperative channel encoding across multiple GERAN tonal carriers

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of a GERAN transceiver for communicating in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) radio access network (GERAN) are described herein. The GERAN transceiver includes a codation module to split a turbo-encoded data block into a plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts and to interleave the plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts for individual transmission on across a plurality of tonal carriers corresponding to independent GERAN frequency channels.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/400,757, filed on Apr. 7, 2006, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.7,616,697, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to wireless communications. Someembodiments relate to GERAN transceivers and encoding of data blocks.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

An evolving family of standards, specifications, and technical reportsis being developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) todefine parameters associated with second and third generation wirelesscommunication systems. These systems include a Global System for Mobilecommunication (GSM) and data access technologies such as General PacketRadio Service (GPRS) and Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE).The acronyms GSM, GPRS, and EDGE are subsumed in “GSM EDGE radio accessnetwork (GERAN).” Additional information regarding these technologiesmay be found in European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)Technical Specification TS101 855 V8.17.0, Digital CellularTelecommunications System (Phase 2+); Technical Specifications andTechnical Reports for a GERAN-based 3GPP System (3GPP TS01.01 version8.17.0 Release 1999) (published June 2005). Additional informationregarding the 3GPP™ may be found at http://www.3gpp.org/.

Current GERAN standardizations may use modulation and coding schemes(MCSs) that include a one-third rate convolution coding operationfollowed by puncturing to a desired code rate. These MCSs may be denotedMCS1 thru MCS9. A resulting punctured block may be interleaved acrossseveral time-division multiple-access (TDMA) frames. For example, theblock may be divided into four bursts and the bursts may then betransmitted in four consecutive TDMA frames.

A frequency hopping capability available in GSM may be configured asdisabled, in which case the four bursts may be transmitted on the sameup-conversion frequency. Alternatively, frequency hopping may beconfigured as enabled, in which case the four bursts may be transmittedon different up-conversion frequencies. for example, MCS7, MCS8 and MCS9are encoded at a high rate and are modulated to enable them to providedata rates of approximately 45.0 to 59.4 kilobits (kbits)/s pertimeslot. MCS7, MCS8, and MCS9 may operate using coding rates of R=0.75,0.82, and 1.0, respectively. These high coding rates may result insubstantially degraded performance, both in hopping channels and innon-hopping channels, at over-terrain speeds greater than a fewkilometers per hour. Throughput may become capped due to block errorrate (BLER) floors associated with these MCSs at higher over-terrainspeeds, such that maximum theoretical throughputs may be unachievableeven as signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) increase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a GERAN system timeslot diagram according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a codation module and a representativesystem according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating several methods according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an article according to variousembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a GERAN system timeslot diagram according to variousembodiments. Embodiments herein may enhance performance through the useof cooperative channel encoding (“interleaving”) of a data block acrossmultiple GERAN tonal carriers. Multi-carrier interleaving may increasethroughput by increasing carrier diversity. Interleaving may achieve agreater throughput than simply transmitting two independent GERANchannels, one on each tonal carrier.

In an example embodiment, a turbo-encoded data block 106 may be dividedinto a first set of eight data bursts 108. A first subset of four databursts 110 may be transmitted on a first tonal carrier 114. A secondsubset of four data bursts 118 may be transmitted on a second tonalcarrier 122. A data burst 123 of the first subset of data bursts 110 maybe inserted in a third timeslot 124 of a frame 125. A second set ofeight data bursts 126 associated with a next turbo-encoded data block130 may then be transmitted on the first tonal carrier 114 and on thesecond tonal carrier 122. Transmission of additional blocks of a datastream may continue in like manner.

Other channel-interleaved coding schemes may be possible. In someembodiments, for example, data bursts may be interleaved between morethan two tonal carriers. Sequential data bursts may occupy more than onetimeslot within a GERAN frame, and some frames may be skipped as databursts associated with an encoded block are placed into sequentialframes.

Embodiments herein may utilize a block length greater than a payloadblock length specified in an enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) specification. Errorrates may be decreased, because error rates associated withturbo-encoded blocks may decrease with block length. For example, someembodiments may double the EGPRS block length, for example. Suchperformance increase may not be possible with GERAN convolution coding,because performance associated with convolution-encoded blocks maydecrease with increasing block length. Additional information regardingEGPRS block lengths may be found in 3GPP TS 43.064 V6.5.0 (2004-11)Technical Specification, 3rd Generation Partnership Project; TechnicalSpecification Group GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network; General Packet RadioService (GPRS); Overall description of the GPRS Radio Interface; Stage 2(Release 6) (published November 2004).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a codation module 200 and a representativesystem 280 according to various embodiments. The codation module 200 maybe associated with a first GERAN transceiver 202. The first GERANtransceiver 202 may communicate with one or more additional GERANtransceivers (e.g., with a second GERAN transceiver 203).

The codation module 200 may include a data source 204 and a turboencoder 206 coupled to the data source 204. The data source 204 maysupply a data block 207 to the turbo encoder 206. The turbo encoder 206may produce a first turbo-encoded data block 210 from the data block207. A block length associated with the first turbo-encoded data block210 may, but need not, comprise a multiple of an EGPRS block length, aspreviously described. For example, the multiple may be greater than orequal to 1.0.

A first rate-matching module 211 may be coupled to the turbo encoder206. The first rate-matching module 211 may perform a bit puncturingoperation on the first turbo-encoded data block 210 to increase thecoding rate, a bit repetition operation to increase a signal-to-noiseratio associated with a repeated bit, or both.

The codation module 200 may also include a channel interleaver 212. Thechannel interleaver 212 may be operatively coupled to the turbo encoder206. The channel interleaver 212 may split the first turbo-encoded datablock 210 into a first plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts 216. Thechannel interleaver 212 may interleave the first plurality ofturbo-encoded data bursts 216 for transmission across a plurality oftonal carriers (e.g., a first tonal carrier 217 and a second tonalcarrier 218).

In some embodiments, the channel interleaver 212 may be adapted tointerleave the first plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts 216 acrossone or more timeslots in each one of a subsequent sequence of frames. Aseparate sequence of frames may be associated with each of the pluralityof tonal carriers.

Referring back to FIG. 1, for example, the first set of eight databursts 108 may be interleaved between the first tonal carrier 114 andthe second tonal carrier 122. Each of the first subset of four databursts 110 may be inserted into a third timeslot (e.g., the thirdtimeslot 124) associated with each subsequent one of frames 133, 125,134, and 136. A next subset of four data bursts 132 associated with thenext data block 130 may be inserted into a subsequent third timeslot(e.g., the timeslot 137) of each of the next four frames 138, 140, 142,and 144 associated with the first tonal carrier 114. In someembodiments, each subsequent frame may be populated with at least onedata burst (e.g., with no frames unpopulated).

Turning again to FIG. 2, a plurality of tonal carrier modulators (e.g.,a first tonal carrier modulator 230 and a second tonal carrier modulator232) may be coupled to the channel interleaver 212. The plurality oftonal carrier modulators may modulate a plurality of tonal carriers(e.g., the first tonal carrier 217 and the second tonal carrier 218)with the first plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts 216. The modulatedplurality of tonal carriers may then be up-converted and transmitted byan up-converter and transmitter 240 to a receiver and down-converter 241associated with the second GERAN transceiver 203.

The codation module 200 may also include a receiver and down-converter242. The receiver and down-converter 242 may receive and down-convert aradio-frequency (RF) signal 243 received from an up-converter andtransmitter 244 associated with the second GERAN transceiver 203.

The codation module 200 may also include a plurality of tonal carrierdemodulators (e.g., a first tonal carrier demodulator 246 and a secondtonal carrier demodulator 248). The plurality of tonal carrierdemodulators may receive a plurality of down-converted tonal carriers(e.g., a first down-converted tonal carrier 252 and a seconddown-converted tonal carrier 254) from the receiver and down-converter242). The plurality of down-converted tonal carriers may originate in acodation module 255 associated with the second GERAN transceiver 203.The plurality of tonal carrier demodulators may demodulate a secondplurality of turbo-encoded data bursts 256 from the plurality ofdown-converted tonal carriers.

A channel de-interleaver 258 may be coupled to the plurality of tonalcarrier demodulators. The channel de-interleaver 258 may assemble thesecond plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts 256 into a secondturbo-encoded data block 262. A second rate-matching module 266 may becoupled to the channel de-interleaver 258. The second rate-matchingmodule 266 may perform a bit de-puncturing operation, a repeated bitcombining operation, or both on the second turbo-encoded data block 262.

The codation module 200 may also include a turbo decoder 270 coupled tothe second rate-matching module 266. The turbo decoder 270 may perform adecoding operation on the second turbo-encoded data block 262. A datasink 272 may accept a resulting decoded data block 274 from the turbodecoder 270.

In another embodiment, a wireless system 280 may include one or moreGERAN transceivers (e.g., the GERAN transceivers 202 and 203), each witha codation module 200, as previously described. The codation module 200may be operatively coupled to an antenna 284 to facilitatecommunications in a GERAN. The antenna 284 may comprise a patch antenna,an omnidirectional antenna, a beam antenna, a slot antenna, a monopoleantenna, or a dipole antenna, among other types.

Any of the components previously described can be implemented in anumber of ways, including embodiments in software. Thus, the data blocks106, 130, 207, 210, 262, 274; the data bursts 108, 110, 118, 123, 126,132, 216, 256; the tonal carriers 114, 122, 217, 218, 252, 254; the timeslots 124, 137; the frames 125, 133, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144; thecodation modules 200, 255; the GERAN transceivers 202, 203; the datasource 204; the turbo encoder 206; the rate-matching modules 211, 266;the channel interleaver 212; the tonal carrier modulators 230, 232; theup-converter and transmitters 240, 244; the receiver and down-converters241, 242; the RF signal 243; the tonal carrier demodulators 246, 248;the channel de-interleaver 258; the turbo decoder 270; the data sink272; the system 280; and the antenna 284 may all be characterized as“modules” herein.

The modules may include hardware circuitry, single or multi-processorcircuits, memory circuits, software program modules and objects,firmware, and combinations thereof, as desired by the architect of thecodation module 200 and the system 180 and as appropriate for particularimplementations of various embodiments.

The apparatus and systems of various embodiments may be useful inapplications other than interleaving an encoded data block acrossmultiple GERAN tonal carriers. They are not intended to serve as acomplete description of all the elements and features of apparatus andsystems that might make use of the structures described herein.

Applications that may include the novel apparatus and systems of variousembodiments include electronic circuitry used in high-speed computers,communication and signal processing circuitry, modems, single ormulti-processor modules, single or multiple embedded processors, dataswitches, and application-specific modules, including multilayer,multi-chip modules. Such apparatus and systems may further be includedas sub-components within a variety of electronic systems, such astelevisions, cellular telephones, personal computers (e.g., laptopcomputers, desktop computers, handheld computers, tablet computers,etc.), workstations, radios, video players, audio players (e.g., mp3players), vehicles, medical devices (e.g., heart monitor, blood pressuremonitor, etc.) and others. Some embodiments may include a number ofmethods.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating several methods according tovarious embodiments. In one example, a method 300 may transmit a firstturbo-encoded data block in a first plurality of bursts across a firstplurality of tonal carriers in a GERAN.

The method 300 may commence at block 305 with detecting a presence ofoutbound data to process. If outbound data is present, the method 300may continue at block 309 with turbo-encoding a first unencoded datablock to derive the first turbo-encoded data block. The method 300 mayalso include performing a puncturing operation on the firstturbo-encoded data block to increase the coding rate, a bit repetitionoperation to increase a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a repeatedbit, or both, at block 313.

The method 300 may further include burst-interleaving the firstturbo-encoded data block to yield the first plurality of bursts, atblock 317. The first plurality of bursts may be organized fortransmission across the first plurality of tonal carriers, as previouslydescribed. For example, the first plurality of tonal carriers maycomprise a first tonal carrier and a second tonal carrier. Using thistwo-carrier example, the first turbo-encoded data block may be dividedinto a first subset of bursts and a second subset of bursts. The firstsubset of bursts may be organized for transmission on the first tonalcarrier and the second subset of bursts may be organized fortransmission on the second tonal carrier.

In some embodiments, consecutive ones of the first subset of burststransmitted on the first tonal carrier, the second subset of burststransmitted on the second tonal carrier, or both may be transmitted onconsecutive data frames. Alternatively, consecutive ones of the firstsubset of bursts transmitted on the first tonal carrier, the secondsubset of bursts transmitted on the second tonal carrier, or both may betransmitted on a single data frame.

In an example embodiment, the first plurality of bursts may compriseeight bursts. One burst may be inserted in a timeslot associated witheach of four consecutive GERAN frames transmitted on the first tonalcarrier and with each of four consecutive GERAN frames transmitted onthe second tonal carrier.

The method 300 may also include modulating the first plurality of tonalcarriers using the first plurality of bursts, at block 319. Modulationmethods may include a Gaussian minimum-shift keying technique, an8-state phase-shift keying technique, and/or a 16-state quadratureamplitude modulation technique, among others.

The method 300 may further include up-converting the modulated firstplurality of tonal carriers and transmitting a resulting RF signal, atblock 321. Some embodiments may perform a channel-hopping operation byup-converting the first plurality of tonal carriers to a plurality of RFcarriers. Controls may return to block 305 as described above.

Referring to block 305, if no outbound data is present to process fortransmission, the method 300 may inquire if inbound data is present andpending processing, at block 325. If no outbound data is present toprocess for transmission, controls may return to block 305 as describedabove. Otherwise, if inbound data is present and pending processing, themethod 300 may include receiving a second plurality of data burstsassociated with a second turbo-encoded data block from a plurality oftonal carrier demodulators, at block 327.

The method 300 may continue at block 331 with de-interleaving the secondplurality of data bursts to yield the second turbo-encoded data block. Ade-puncturing operation, a repeated bit combining operation, or both maybe performed on the second turbo-encoded data block, at block 335. Aniteration of the method 300 may terminate at block 339 withturbo-decoding the second turbo-encoded data block to yield a secondunencoded data block.

It may be possible to execute the activities described herein in anorder other than the order described. And, various activities describedwith respect to the methods identified herein can be executed inrepetitive, serial, or parallel fashion.

A software program may be launched from a computer-readable medium in acomputer-based system to execute functions defined in the softwareprogram. Various programming languages may be employed to createsoftware programs designed to implement and perform the methodsdisclosed herein. The programs may be structured in an object-orientatedformat using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++.Alternatively, the programs may be structured in a procedure-orientatedformat using a procedural language, such as assembly or C. The softwarecomponents may communicate using a number of mechanisms well known tothose skilled in the art, such as application program interfaces orinter-process communication techniques, including remote procedurecalls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to anyparticular programming language or environment. Thus, other embodimentsmay be realized, as discussed regarding FIG. 4 below.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an article 485 according to variousembodiments of the invention. Examples of such embodiments may comprisea computer, a memory system, a magnetic or optical disk, some otherstorage device, or any type of electronic device or system. The article485 may include one or more processor(s) 487 coupled to amachine-accessible medium such as a memory 489 (e.g., a memory includingelectrical, optical, or electromagnetic elements). The medium maycontain associated information 491 (e.g., computer program instructions,data, or both) which, when accessed, results in a machine (e.g., theprocessor(s) 487) performing the activities previously described.

Implementing the apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein mayenhance performance through the use of cooperative channel encoding(“interleaving”) of a turbo-encoded data block across multiple GERANtonal carriers. Multi-carrier interleaving may increase throughput byincreasing carrier diversity, particularly for higher over-terrainvehicle speeds. Greater throughput may be achieved than if twoindependent GERAN channels were transmitted, one on each tonal carrier.

Although the inventive concept may include embodiments described in theexemplary context of an ETSI GERAN standard implementation or an IEEEstandard 802.xx implementation (e.g., 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e,802.11g, 802.16, etc.), the claims are not so limited. Additionalinformation regarding the IEEE 802.11 standard may be found in“ANSI/IEEE Std. 802.11, Information technology—Telecommunications andinformation exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan areanetworks—Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications” (published 1999;reaffirmed June 2003). Additional information regarding the IEEE 802.11aprotocol standard may be found in IEEE Std 802.11a, Supplement to IEEEStandard for Information technology-Telecommunications and informationexchange between systems-Local and metropolitan area networks-Specificrequirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) andPhysical Layer (PHY) specifications—High-speed Physical Layer in the 5GHz Band (published 1999; reaffirmed Jun. 12, 2003). Additionalinformation regarding the IEEE 802.11b protocol standard may be found inIEEE Std 802.11b, Supplement to IEEE Standard for Informationtechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange betweensystems—Local and metropolitan area networks-Specific requirements-Part11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)specifications: Higher-Speed Physical Layer Extension in the 2.4 GHzBand (approved Sep. 16, 1999; reaffirmed Jun. 12, 2003). Additionalinformation regarding the IEEE 802.11E standard may be found in “IEEE802.11e Standard for Information technology-Telecommunications andinformation exchange between systems-Local and metropolitan areanetworks—Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications: Amendment 8:Medium Access Control (MAC) Quality of Service Enhancements (published2005). Additional information regarding the IEEE 802.11g protocolstandard may be found in IEEE Std 802.11g™, IEEE Standard forInformation technology—Telecommunications and information exchangebetween systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specificrequirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) andPhysical Layer (PHY) specifications Amendment 4: Further Higher DataRate Extension in the 2.4 GHz Band (approved Jun. 12, 2003).

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as part of anywired or wireless system. Examples may also include embodimentscomprising multi-carrier wireless communication channels (e.g.,orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), discrete multitone(DMT), etc.) such as may be used within a wireless personal area network(WPAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless metropolitanarea network (WMAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a cellularnetwork, a third generation (3G) network, a fourth generation (4G)network, a universal mobile telephone system (UMTS), and likecommunication systems, without limitation.

The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof show, by way ofillustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which thesubject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may beutilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments isdefined only by the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein individually or collectively by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any single invention or inventive concept, if more thanone is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have beenillustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achievethe same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown.This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In the foregoing Detailed Description,various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted to require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may be found in less thanall features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claimsare hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate embodiment.

1. A GERAN transceiver for communicating in a global system for mobilecommunications (GSM) enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) radioaccess network (GERAN), the GERAN transceiver comprising: a transmitter;and a codation module to split a turbo-encoded data block into aplurality of turbo-encoded data bursts and to interleave the pluralityof turbo-encoded data bursts for individual transmission by thetransmitter across a plurality of tonal carriers corresponding toindependent GERAN frequency channels.
 2. The GERAN transceiver of claim1 wherein the codation module comprises a turbo encoder and a channelinterleaver, wherein the turbo encoder produces the turbo-encoded datablock, and wherein the channel interleaver splits the turbo-encoded datablock into the plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts and interleavesthe plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts for individual transmissionacross the plurality of tonal carriers.
 3. The GERAN transceiver ofclaim 2 wherein the channel interleaver interleaves the plurality ofturbo-encoded data bursts for transmission by the transmitter withincorresponding time-slots of sequential frames of the plurality of tonalcarriers.
 4. The GERAN transceiver of claim 2 wherein the codationmodule further comprises: a data source coupled to the turbo encoder tosupply a data block to the turbo encoder; and a rate-matching modulecoupled to the turbo encoder to perform at least one of a bit puncturingoperation on the turbo-encoded data block to increase the coding rate ora bit repetition operation on the turbo-encoded data block to increase asignal-to-noise ratio associated with a repeated bit.
 5. The GERANtransceiver of claim 4 wherein a block length associated with theturbo-encoded data block comprises a multiple not less than 1.0 of anenhanced general packet radio service (GPRS) block length definedaccording to a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) TechnicalSpecification TS 43.064.
 6. The GERAN transceiver of claim 1 wherein thecodation module further comprises a plurality of tonal carriermodulators coupled to the channel interleaver to modulate the pluralityof tonal carriers with the plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts. 7.The GERAN transceiver of claim 6 further comprising: an up-converter toupconvert the plurality of tonal carriers; and a receiver and adownconverter to downconvert a plurality of tonal carriers received fromanother GERAN transceiver.
 8. The GERAN transceiver of claim 7 whereinthe up-converter is to perform a channel hopping operation byup-converting the plurality of tonal carriers to a plurality of RFcarriers.
 9. A method for communicating in a global system for mobilecommunications (GSM) enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) radioaccess network (GERAN) performed by a GERAN transceiver, the methodcomprising: splitting a turbo-encoded data block into a plurality ofturbo-encoded data bursts; and interleaving the plurality ofturbo-encoded data bursts for individual transmission across a pluralityof tonal carriers corresponding to independent GERAN frequency channels.10. The method of claim 9 wherein interleaving comprises interleaving aplurality of turbo-encoded data bursts for transmission withincorresponding time-slots of sequential frames of the plurality of tonalcarriers.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising performing atleast one of a bit puncturing operation on the turbo-encoded data blockto increase the coding rate or a bit repetition operation on theturbo-encoded data block to increase a signal-to-noise ratio associatedwith a repeated bit.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein a block lengthassociated with the turbo-encoded data block comprises a multiple notless than 1.0 of an enhanced general packet radio service (GPRS) blocklength defined according to a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)Technical Specification TS 43.064.
 13. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising modulating the plurality of tonal carriers with the pluralityof turbo-encoded data bursts.
 14. The method of claim 13 furthercomprising performing a channel hopping operation by up-converting theplurality of tonal carriers to a plurality of RF carriers.
 15. A GERANtransceiver for communicating in a global system for mobilecommunications (GSM) enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) radioaccess network (GERAN), the GERAN transceiver comprising: a turboencoder to produce a turbo-encoded data block; and a channel interleaveto split the turbo-encoded data block into a plurality of turbo-encodeddata bursts and to interleave the plurality of turbo-encoded data burstsfor individual transmission across a plurality of tonal carrierscorresponding to independent GERAN frequency channels.
 16. The GERANtransceiver of claim 15 further comprising: a rate-matching modulecoupled to the turbo encoder to perform at least one of a bit puncturingoperation on the turbo-encoded data block to increase the coding rate ora bit repetition operation on the turbo-encoded data block to increase asignal-to-noise ratio associated with a repeated bit.
 17. The GERANtransceiver of claim 16 wherein the channel interleaver is to interleavethe plurality of turbo-encoded data bursts for transmission withincorresponding time-slots of sequential frames of the plurality of tonalcarriers.
 18. The GERAN transceiver of claim 15 further comprising aplurality of tonal carrier modulators coupled to the channel interleaverto modulate the plurality of tonal carriers with the plurality ofturbo-encoded data bursts.
 19. The GERAN transceiver of claim 15 whereina block length associated with the turbo-encoded data block comprises amultiple not less than 1.0 of an enhanced general packet radio service(GPRS) block length defined according to a 3rd Generation PartnershipProject (3GPP) Technical Specification TS 43.064.